Are you trying to figure out how to get the most out of your dining room layout? Read this article to learn more about setting up your dining room.
While you’ll find a bathroom, a kitchen, and at least one bedroom in all kinds of houses and apartments, there’s a lot of variation between homes when it comes to dining room layouts.
But, whether your home has a dedicated dining room setup or an informal space with just enough room for a table, there are plenty of tricks to help make the most of your dining room layout.
With the right touches, it’s possible to turn your dining area – no matter the size or how formal the setup – into a welcoming destination for all the family and any visiting guests.
If setting up your dining room is proving more of a struggle than you expected, this guide is sure to help.
Keep reading for seven of the most inspiring dining room layout ideas.
1. Make it Multipurpose
Formal dining room layouts can often make these kinds of rooms less inviting for anything other than dinner parties and large gatherings.
But it’s a shame to let this space go to waste.
Especially when you could be using it for studying, working, or as a spot to pour over the morning papers with a cup of coffee.
Encourage everyday use by selecting dining room furniture that’s both comfortable and stylish.
A round or oval table, as opposed to a long rectangular one, can make it feel less imposing to sit alone and read or work.
Bookcases can also help invite more regular use into the room by creating a cozy library-style feel.
Likewise, neutral colors and natural textures can add depth and warmth to the room.
This makes even more formal spaces feel like the kind of place you want to spend time in.
2. Mix Chair Styles
Formal dining rooms can sometimes evoke the look of a boardroom with their long tables and uniform sets of chairs.
Avoid this from happening by making sure the head chairs are a different style to the side chairs.
For example, you might choose an armchair-style look for the head chairs and simpler upholstered chairs with round backs for the side chairs.
Rounded backs also have the advantage of appearing less uniform than square-backed chairs.
This helps add a hint of the informal and also offers a contrast to the angles of the table.
3. Layer Lighting
Regardless of how formal or informal your dining room layout is, layered lighting serves many purposes for improving and highlighting the best of the room’s features.
In larger dining rooms, consider wall sconces around 52 inches from the ground.
These help create a soft, welcoming glow that’s also more flattering for you and any guests.
Likewise, table lamps placed on side tables can encourage people to use the room for solo activities like reading or studying.
In multi-use spaces, accent lighting can help divide the room and highlight its different purposes.
This way, you can change the lighting and focus of the room depending on whether you’re eating at the table or relaxing on the sofa.
4. Save Space with Stools and Benches
If space is of a premium, stools and benches offer an ideal solution.
Unlike chairs, you can tuck benches and stools underneath a dining table to create more space when and where it’s needed.
This helps the flow of a smaller room and creates a neater space for the table area.
Benches also offer a practical solution if you do a lot of entertaining.
While chairs are strictly one per person, benches allow for extra guests without you needing to buy more furniture.
This is especially useful for the holiday season if your loved ones have a habit of turning up unannounced!
What’s more, stools and benches aren’t just great space-savers. They can also help add an informal and cozy look to a large dining room.
5. Divide with a Rug
Adding a rug to a multipurpose room helps create a clearer division between the dining and living areas while also making the space look bigger.
But you’ll need to take the size and positioning into account to achieve the right look for your dining room setup.
If you intend to put the rug underneath the table and chairs, make sure that all the dining furniture is completely on the rug.
If there’s other furniture in that part of the room, such as a side table, this should be off the rug.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to place your rug in your living area, make sure that the rug ends before the dining area begins.
In this case, you want all the furniture in the dining area completely off the rug.
6. Use an Extendable Table
Many people have their dining tables set up all year round with space for the maximum amount of people they’ll ever entertain.
While this avoids headaches whenever guests come round, it makes poor use of your space.
A better idea is to have an extendable table. You can set it up to fit the number of places you use on a regular basis and then extend it whenever you entertain.
With this extra space, you could create a cozy reading nook in a formal dining room, or give a smaller dining space less of a cramped feel.
7. Add Personality with Mismatched Chairs
Mismatched dining chairs might have you thinking of Monica Geller’s apartment in Friends.
But, with some clever coordination, you can use this modern look to add a dose of originality to your dining room setup.
The key is to keep at least one theme the same across all the chairs. This could be the color, shape, or material.
For example, you could choose the same chair design in several different colors.
Or you could go for a specific wood finish and find a variety of different chairs in that shade.
Often, this bold look will make the chairs the focal point of the room.
But if you’re looking for a way to make a formal dining room more modern or bring greater focus to the dining area in a multi-use room, this could be the perfect solution.
Make the Most of Your Dining Room Layout
It’s much easier to make the most of your dining room layout if you work with what you have rather than feeling limited or constrained to make certain design choices.
And by doing so, even the most formal or most space-starved dining areas can feel welcoming, cozy, and a pleasure to spend time in.
For more inspiring lifestyle tips, be sure to check out my other blog posts!